Today, Dr Chi-ming Cha is immortalised by his
namesake, Cha House in HKRI Taikoo Hui, another
mixed-use development in a prime location in Shanghai.
On behalf of the company, Victor bought the land at the
beginning of the 21st century with a vision to transform
it to be a lifestyle hub of China’s international city.
He later bought in Swire Properties as a partner
and named the project HKRI Taikoo Hui. Cha House
is a century-old European mansion, around which Victor
determined to restore and reinvent this city heritage using
state-of-the-art technology. It’s symbolic of HKRI’s fusion
of style and function, and its status as market leader and
pioneer in Asia’s property market.
“There are plenty more projects now being planned,”
says Victor. “But they all have one thing in common – they
follow our vision of creating a lifestyle, and making the
world better for everyone. If you stick to your values, finish
what you set out to do, and are accountable to all the
stakeholders, I call that success.”
The move from textiles to property evidently wasn’t
enough of a transformation for the Cha family; HKRI’s
interests today include hospitality and health care, in
addition to its extensive property portfolio across the
Asia–Pacific region. It’s likely why Victor considers the
company something of a “lifestyle curator” rather than
a property developer.
“We value and respect people, the land, society,
environment and the earth,” he explains. “While our
commercial ambition is to keep growing the business
and its portfolio, the bigger goal is to bring positive
changes to the communities in the places where we
operate. Ensuring sustainability and liveability both for
the short- and long-term.”
According to Victor, the work’s never boring. Given the
amount of business travelling and social responsibilities on
his plate, it’s clear he speaks the truth. The market, he says,
“changes faster than you think”, and his belief that there’s
no room for complacency is a powerful motivator. On the
flipside, Victor says there’s plenty of room for perfection,
but even more crucial is persistence.
“I realised a long time ago that Darwin was right,”
he says. “It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor the
most intelligent. It’s the one most responsive to change.
It’s the same with success in business. You have to adapt,
and you can’t let obstacles stop you.”
Nor does Victor let obstacles get in the way of his team.
All are encouraged to contribute ideas and strategies, out
of respect for their expertise and professionalism. It’s essential,
therefore, that HKRI employs the best team possible, one
that exemplifies passion and free thinking.
“You know the old joke on those coffee mugs, ‘You
don’t have to be crazy to work here. But it helps!’ – It’s
funny but everyone knows that, deep down, it’s kind of true.
“It’s often those intensely passionate people who make
the biggest difference in a business. I don’t mean nutters. I’m
talking about people who are seriously creative, yet highly
self-disciplined, and who share our mission and values.”“It’s not the strongest species
that survives, nor the most
intelligent. It’s the one most
responsive to change.”
HKRI Taikoo Hui,
Shanghai18 | theceomagazine.com
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